Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 - Drivers’ Hours

On Tuesday 11th April 2006 the Official Journal of the European Union was published containing the replacement social package for road transport (drivers' hours), which implemented some changes and amendments to the previous regulations regarding record keeping, the first of which were implemented on 1st May 2006. Further changes/amendments were implemented from 11th April 2007. The package contains Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, which is allegedly intended to simplify, clarify and update the previous 20-year old rules governing drivers’ hours, through the introduction of the digital tachograph as well as several other changes to existing rules and regulations. Regulation (EC) No 3820/85 has been repealed and replaced by this new Regulation.

The revised guidance includes the recent changes made by DfT including how to manage drivers with more than one employer and how to manage hours worked for a previous employer.

Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85

Regulation (EEC)No 3821/85 was amended to clarify specific obligations on transport undertakings and drivers, as well as confirming the date for mandatory fitment of digital tachograph vehicle units into new in-scope vehicles  - 1st May 2006. Regulation (EC) No 2135/98 was amended to enable the activities of a driver over a 28-day period to be recorded electronically on his/her driver smart card and electronic records of vehicle operations to cover a 365-day period to be recorded.

Attached is a briefing paper that gives full details of all the recent changes to the drivers' hours regulations.